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CPI(M) organises novel protest

Poor and middle class people bearing the brunt of price rise: party leader

Call to prohibit futures trading of commodities

Cut in quota of essentials alleged

VIJAYAWADA: The CPI(M) organised a novel protest against skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, here on Wednesday. The road abutting Sub Collector’s office marked with attention grabbing activity as the CPI(M) activists put up a makeshift fair price shop with no commodities to sell, and a open market with full of stocks sold at higher prices.

The dharna camp rented with slogans against skyrocketing prices, and alleged government’s spectator role in controlling the hoarding of and rising prices of essential commodities. Addressing the gathering, CPI(M) state committee member Ch. Babu Rao said that the poor and middle class was bearing the brunt of the spiralling prices of all essential commodities. The government was playing the role of a mere spectator even as the prices were touching the sky.

Expressing grave concern over the rising prices of essential commodities, he said the ‘futures trading of commodities’ was the key reason behind hike in prices. The futures trading of commodities should be prohibited forthwith to bring down the skyrocketing prices. Strengthening of PDS (public distribution system), and issuance of ration cards for every citizen would solve the problem to some extent, he felt.

CPI (M) city secretary R. Raghu said that many poor families in the city were depending on rice and other commodities being distributed through the ration shops. Unfortunately, there was a cut in the quota of one or more commodities every month. In addition to this, the government was weeding out ration cards under the garb of bogus ones, he said, adding, the new ration card holders were not getting rations for the last one year and despite several complaints there was no action from the officials. Referring to the prices of vegetables, Mr. Raghu demanded that the government take steps to regulate the prices of vegetables too and distribute them on subsidy.